“And he owns a rail company.”
“That’s right. One of Northeast’s largest competitors.” That was true.
“Huh. It’s still a head scratcher, her being here and all, especially in her condition. She doesn’t look like a spy. I guess maybe that’s the point.”
“It probably is.”
“Well, I’ll keep my eye out like the sheriff asked.” He grinned. “Both eyes.”
“One eye is sufficient. Keep the other on Fedora.” Roen smiled at her but continued speaking to Hitch. “We are very happy she’s here with us.”
“Reckon that’s good night, then,” said Hitch, tapping the brim of his hat.
Roen waved them off, and when the door closed behind them, he went to find Lily. She was sitting on the sofa beside Clay looking over his answers to a series of problems Roen had given him earlier. Roen walked behind the sofa and looked over their shoulders. There was no help that he could offer that Lily hadn’t so he moved to the rocking chair and sat. He had the odd thought that he had just usurped Lily’s throne, and apparently he wasn’t alone in that. Hannah, Lizzie, and Ham stopped what they were doing and stared at him.
He shrugged a shade guiltily and that appeared to be enough for them. Ham and Lizzie resumed playing cards, and Hannah put her nose back in her book.
“Did you catch Fedora and pay her before she left?” asked Lily without looking up.
“I did. Hitch was loitering in the kitchen. Did you know that?”
“Uh-huh. And so would you if you hadn’t gone straightaway to your study after dinner.” She smiled a little at the word “study.” It was pretentious to call that cubbyhole a study, but they were all following Hannah’s insistence that it be so.
“I’m working on a new map.”
“Yes, I know. I peeked in on you once.”
He frowned. “You did?”
“It’s all right, Roen. You were deep in thought.”
Roen realized he must have been because it wasn’t like him not to be aware of Lily’s presence, even if it was only brief. “I apologize. Did you need something?”
“I wanted to remind you that Fedora was due her wages, but you took care of that on your own.” Lily pointed out an error to Clay. He used the side of his hand to rub the slate clean and started again. Lily said to Roen, “He’s been working hard at this since he left the table.”
“It appears you have, too.”
She shrugged as if it was of no account. “Did Hitch have anything new to tell you?”
“No. The same.”
“Hmm. What do you suppose she’s waiting for?”
Roen looked to see if they had an interested audience for this conversation. No one’s ears pricked. “I don’t know, but if this delay is because there’s hope I’m going to change my mind, I’m not.”
“Do you think you should have another talk? Perhaps make that clear?”
“No. I couldn’t have been clearer the first time.” Roen changed the subject. “I’m planning on going out tomorrow. I could use your help.”
“Take Clay,” said Lily. “He can miss a day of school. He’s worked hard enough this evening.”
“But we agreed I wouldn’t take—”
Lily waved aside his objection. “You’re not going to the disputed property, are you?” Roen shook his head. “Well, then, he can go. I know you’ll look after him.”
Clay looked up from his slate. “Thanks, Ma, but no one’s going anywhere tomorrow. Maxwell Wayne says a storm’s heading our way. It’ll come down hard from the mountains and drop ten inches on us by the afternoon.”
“He can’t possibly know that,” said Roen.
